On “Nothing Out There for Me,” guest vocalist Beyoncé Knowles pledges allegiance to one man and states, “I do not get high.”
Obscenities abound, most notably variations on the f-word. Elliott refers to women as “b–ches” and “hos” quite a bit. Some of that malice appears on “Gossip Folks,” which makes violent threats and sexual comments, and glamorizes sniffing cocaine. Other songs allude to getting extremely high (“Go to the Floor”) and drunk (“Back in the Days”). Rapper Method Man makes a graphic sexual come-on to a woman whose current flame isn’t getting the job done (“Bring the Pain”). With help from Jay-Z, Elliott slams Bill O’Reilly and others who condemn rap music, all the while exalting the likes of Tupac, Dr. Dre, Salt-N-Pepa, Notorious B.I.G. and other disturbing icons (“Back in the Days”). Cuts brag about wealth and musical prowess. “Work It” describes a woman’s erotic desires, including oral sex. Elliott paints men as greedy and manipulative (“Ain’t That Funny”), and hopes to keep hers from sleeping around by being great in bed (“Pussycat”). “Hot” warns anyone who might cross her, “I don’t carry guns; [I] kick a– with a chain.”
“People always say, ‘Yo, that’s too nasty’ and ‘Why your mouth so vulgar,’” Elliott says. “I be representing for the ladies and we got something to say.” Any female who feels represented or empowered by her rants should seek counseling. And Under Construction should be condemned.
